Department of Romance Languages

• Major in Spanish
• Second Major in Spanish
• Minor in Spanish
• Special Subject Area Teacher Licensure in Spanish (K-12)
• Major in Spanish with Teacher Licensure
• Spanish as a Second Academic Concentration
• Proposed Program of Study
• Advisors
• Special Opportunities

Department Goals: 

Requirements for the Major

The major begins at the 300 level.  A minimum number of 30 hours at the 300 level and above is required to complete the major.  Students seeking licensure should consult their advisor and refer to the "Teacher Licensure" statements for details.  Literature courses in English translation may not be used for credit toward the major, second major, minor or second academic concentration. 

To maintain the high quality of language instruction at UNCG, students declaring a major in either French or Spanish must sit for an oral competence evaluation during the semester in which they will first take a 300-level course in their major. This evaluation is part of our ongoing program assessment and in no way affects the academic record of students. The undergraduate advisor and/or instructor will notify majors with pertinent information at the time of the evaluation.

The minimum of 30 semester hours at the 300 level and above must include the following: 

At least one course at the 500 level must be included in the major.  No requirement for the major may be met by a grade lower than C-. 

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Students must complete the requirements described above for the Spanish Major (30 s.h.).

The student must complete 15-21 semester hours of courses in Spanish above the 203 level, excluding literature courses in English translation.  Typically a student would begin the minor with SPA 204 and continue with SPA 301 (unless entering with advanced placement).  There are no specific courses required for the minor; an advisor can assist with selecting courses to suit the needs of the individual student. 

Majors or second majors seeking teacher licensure must meet competency in phonetics by successfully completing SPA 416 "Phonetics" as one of their elective courses.  Admission to teacher education and student teaching in Spanish requires a minimum grade point average of 2.75, both overall and in the major.  Please see additional teacher licensure requirements discussed under "Teacher Education and Licensure" in the Undergraduate Bulletin, in the next section of this Handbook, and in the Teacher Education Handbook developed by the Teachers Academy at UNCG. 

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Students seeking initial licensure to teach in North Carolina must work closely with the Romance Languages Department and the School of Education, since both agencies certify competence and recommend the student to the State.  The following steps summarize procedures for the Spanish major.  Please note that it is the student's responsibility to initiate these procedures and to complete all requirements at the proper time.

1.    Students are advised to consult with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as early as possible for advice in planning.

2.    General University and College requirements, as stipulated in the Undergraduate Bulletin, must be met.  Many of these can be completed in the freshman and sophomore years.  In order to be admitted to Teacher Education, students must take the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) or the Computer-Based Equivalent.  Forms for these tests can be obtained in the Office of Student Information and Advising in the School of Education (324 Curry Building) or through ETS (1-800-772-9476; praxis@ets.org or http://www.ets.org/praxis). Sylvan Learning Center in Greensboro administers the computer-based PRAXIS I exam (phone 336-288-1312 for additional information).  A grade point average of 2.75 (cumulative and in the major) is required for admission to Teacher Education in Romance Languages.  Close advising in collaboration with Romance Languages and the School of Education is strongly recommended. 

3.    The Professional Education Requirements, as described in the Undergraduate Bulletin under "Teacher Education:  Special Subject-Area Licensure," must be met.  The following courses must precede the professional (or student teaching) semester: 

AULER/GER requirements as identified within each major
CUI 202 or HDF 302 Human Development
CUI 450 Psychological Foundations of Education 
CUI 465** Student Teaching and Seminar (12 semester hours)
CUI 470 Reading Education for Secondary and Special Subject Teachers
CUI 527* Teaching Second Languages:  Elementary/Middle Schools
CUI 545 Issues in Secondary Education (should be taken during Spring semester of junior year)
CUI 552* Teaching Practices and Curriculum in Foreign Languages
ELC 381 The Institution of Education
HEA 201 Personal Health
Optional:
LIS 120 Introduction to Instructional Technology for Educational Settings (strongly recommended: see Item 5 below) 

*Only offered Fall semester 
**Only offered Spring semester

4.    The major requirements in Spanish must be met, as detailed in this booklet.  Please note that those seeking teacher licensure must take specific, required courses satisfying competencies in each of the following five areas:  composition, conversation, literature, culture/civilization and phonetics.  Since all courses are not offered every semester, students should plan their schedules carefully in consultation with their major advisor. 

5.    Students seeking licensure must demonstrate mastery of basic technology competencies as defined by the state.  This can be done by taking LIS 120 or creating a separate section in the technology portfolio which demonstrates the advanced competencies.  This portfolio is to be submitted for evaluation within the program area. 

6.    If there are any questions, refer to the Teacher Education Handbook available through the UNCG Bookstore, or contact: 

Upon completion of student teaching, it is the student's responsibility to apply for licensure at The Teachers Academy.  Contact Kathryn Brown (319 Curry Building, 334-3414). 

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The Department of Romance Languages will recommend the candidate for "A" licensure in Spanish as a second teaching field after successful completion of 24 semester hours of required course work.  The principal teaching field will normally be another foreign language.  Students whose major is in another discipline and who are seeking licensure in  Spanish should consult with the Coordinator for Teacher Licensure in Foreign Languages (344 Curry Building) as soon as possible.

    The student must complete 24 semester hours at the 300 level and above, including: 

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Proposed Program of Study (after 204) for Spanish Majors

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Advisors for Romance Languages Majors and Minors

Students who wish to declare a major or second major in French or Spanish should contact the Director of Student Academic Services (159 Mossman Building).  Student Academic Services as well as CASA, the College of Arts & Sciences Advising Center (Basement of Faust Building), will refer students to one of the faculty members listed below.  We urge prospective majors and second majors to consult with these advisors during their freshman and sophomore years.  Early contact with an advisor enables students to plan ahead concerning course offerings and special opportunities in the Department (such as study abroad). 

Students wishing to minor in French or Spanish should also make their intentions known to one of the advisors for help in designing their individual program. 

Special Opportunities

These are some of the opportunities of special interest to students of French and Spanish:

Programs Abroad
UNCG has affiliations with several academic-year programs in France and Spain.  Interested students should contact their major advisor and the International Programs Center, 127 McIver Street, (336) 334-5404, int_programs@uncg.edu as early as possible.

A semester exchange program for French students has been established with the Université Haute Bretagne in Rennes, France.  For more details contact the Office of International Programs at 127 McIver Street. 

Summer Study Abroad
A five-week program in Spain features courses in conversation and civilization, offering six semester hours of credit.  The Department also organizes and conducts a four-week summer program in Angers, France.  Contact the Department Office in 321 McIver Building. 

On-Campus Immersion
Students who want to improve their French or Spanish skills can take advantage of the opportunity to live in Phillips/Hawkins Hall. 

Social Activities
Both the Café Causette and The Spanish Club sponsor frequent activities.  Students who participate in these activities meet others who are interested in learning about a different culture. 

Honor Societies
The University has Chapters of the national honoraries, Pi Delta Phi for French and Sigma Delta Pi for Spanish.  Membership is by invitation and possible for students in advanced courses who have achieved excellence in Romance studies. 

Scholarships and Awards
The Department recognizes achievement among French and Spanish students by offering a number of annual scholarships, including the Spicer Scholarship, the Miller-Barineau Scholarship, the Hardré Scholarship, the Barney Award and the LaRochelle Scholarship.  Amounts vary.  Visit the scholarships web page and contact the Department Office for further information.

Internships
Paid or unpaid internships requiring foreign language skills are increasingly available.  For more information, consult the Career Services Center, #1 EUC, (336) 334-5454. Students interested in Spanish 499 (Intership in Spanish) should contact Dr. Mark Smith-Soto before registering for the course.

Accelerated B.A./M.B.A.
The accelerated program in French/Spanish/Business Administration provides the opportunity for a student to complete a B.A. in French/Spanish (122 hours) within a four-year period and to shorten the time required to finish the M.B.A.  For further information consult the Undergraduate Bulletin under "Accelerated Master's Programs." 

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